Multicolored Aluminum Spiral for Paper Binding

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture for providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding is disclosed. The article being a spiral made from a length of wire having a specified gauge that is processed by one or more drive rollers coupled to a forming machine using a method of manufacture. The method sets a pitch value for a manufactured spiral on a forming machine, sets a diameter value for the manufactured spiral on the forming machine, receives the length of wire by one or more drive rollers, processes the length of wire by the forming machine using the set pitch value and the set diameter value to create the spiral, dips a first portion of the spiral into a first anodizing solution, and dips one or more additional portions into additional anodizing solutions after the first anodizing solution has set.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture and method for providing paper binding aids, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for binding documents and books.

BACKGROUND

Spiral bindings have long been used document and book productions to bind together a set of pages into a single item. Typically, these spiral bindings have been made of various materials with a metal spiral being preferred for its strength and durability. Providing these spiral bindings in more than the base color of the metal has been difficult and expensive, if not impossible, to manufacture. An inability to control and change the color of these materials has limited the options of document binders to provide products with the most desirable appearance.

Therefore, a need exists for an article of manufacture for providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding. The present invention attempts to address the limitations and deficiencies in prior solutions according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by providing an article of manufacture for multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an article of manufacture for providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding. The article being a spiral made from a length of wire having a specified gauge that is processed by one or more drive rollers coupled to a forming machine using a method of manufacture. The method sets a pitch value for a manufactured spiral on a forming machine, sets a diameter value for the manufactured spiral on the forming machine, receives the length of wire by one or more drive rollers, processes the length of wire by the forming machine using the set pitch value and the set diameter value to create the spiral, dips a first portion of the spiral into a first anodizing solution, and dips one or more additional portions into additional anodizing solutions after the first anodizing solution has set.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the length of wire has a gauge size between 0.040 to 0.110 inches.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the spiral has a pitch value chosen from a set of pitch values.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the set of pitch values comprises 5:1, 5 metric, 4:1, 4 metric, 0.2478, 3.5:1, Wire-O 3, 3:1, 2.5:1, and 2:1.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the spiral has a diameter value between 3/16″ to 5 inches.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method for providing multi-colored aluminum spiral for document and book binding, a spiral being made from a length of wire having a specified gauge that is processed by one or more drive rollers coupled to a forming machine using a method of manufacture. The method sets a pitch value for a manufactured spiral on a forming machine, sets a diameter value for the manufactured spiral on the forming machine, receives the length of wire by one or more drive rollers, processes the length of wire by the forming machine using the set pitch value and the set diameter value to create the spiral, dips a first portion of the spiral into a first anodizing solution, and dips one or more additional portions into additional anodizing solutions after the first anodizing solution has set.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIGS. 1a-f illustrate example embodiments of an article of manufacture providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of manufacture for creating multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates another flowchart of a method of manufacture for creating multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general an article of manufacture and method for providing paper binding aids, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture for providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a needle” includes reference to one or more of such needles and “etching” includes one or more of such steps. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

The terms “paper binder,” and “user” refer to an entity, e.g., a human, using a multi-colored aluminum spiral for document and book binding associated with the invention. The term user herein refers to one or more users.

The term “invention” or “present invention” refers to the invention being applied for via the patent application with the title “Multi-Colored Aluminum Spiral for Paper Binding.” Invention may be used interchangeably with paper binding.

In general, the present disclosure relates an article of manufacture and method to an article of manufacture for providing paper binding aids. To better understand the present invention, FIGS. 1a-f illustrate example embodiments of an article of manufacture providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the present invention. Each of the spirals 101-105 illustrates a different arrangement of possible colors that may be made according to the present invention. The arrangement of colors may show a blending of the colors as they transition from one color to the next as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1c , a sequence of different shades of a single color as shown in FIG. 1b , a set of colors having a distinct change of colors as shown in FIG. 1d , and a mixture of the above as shown in FIG. 1e . All of these spirals have been made using the process disclosed herein associated with the present invention.

Coil formers can turn straight welding wire into spiral coils 101-105. Material is run through drive rollers and through gauges to determine pitch and diameter. The spiral pitch, in a preferred embodiment is one of ten different pitches. These ten pitches comprise 5:1, 5 metric, 4:1, 4 metric, 0.2478, 3.5:1, Wire-O 3, 3:1, 2.5:1, and 2:1. The spiral diameter, in a preferred embodiment is between 3/16″ and 5″.

For the coloring process the spirals are submitted to an anodizing process. Each spiral 101-105 is dipped up to three quarters of the coils into a solution. Once a color strikes, the spiral 101-105 is turned around and the opposite end of the spiral is dipped. The opposite end is typically also dipped into the solution three quarters of the length of the coils. By dipping the middle part in both solutions (colors) it will give the effect of multiple colors.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart for a method of manufacture for creating a multi-colored aluminum spiral for document and book binding according to the present invention. Raw material 201, which is typically ordinary welding wire that comes in spools, is used to create the spirals 101-105 and is set-up to feed to coil forming machines. Spools come in various gauges from 0.040 to 0.110 inches. The material runs through drive rollers 211 before it is fed to forming tools. Diameter and pitch (hole spacing) are set 212 by adjusting tooling on the forming machine. Once adjusted to specific settings, the processed material produces a desired diameter and pitch. Formed coil is run to a set lengths 213 then manually cut to finished lengths to accommodate a client's specifications.

Once cut, each spiral 101-105 is dipped into a first anodizer 213 and allowed to set. Next the opposite end of the spiral 101-105 is dipped into a second anodizer 214 and permitted to set. The process 200 ends after the spiral 101-105 is dipped into a third anodizer 215 and is allowed to set a final time.

FIG. 3 illustrates another flowchart for a method of manufacture for creating multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding according to the present invention. The process 300 to manufacture the spirals 101-105 is defined in FIG. 3. The process begins 301 and a spiral pitch is set on the forming machine 212 to a desired value in step 311; the spiral gauge to be used is set for the forming machine 212 in step 312; and the spiral diameter is set for the forming machine 212 in step 313. The forming machine 212 comprises a PEL Spiral Forming Machine.

The input raw material 201 is selected in step 314 and run through the rollers 211 in step 315 and the forming machine 212 in step 316 to create a raw spiral. The raw spiral is cut to a specified length in step 317. The cut spirals are now ready to be anodized.

The process 300 sets a length of an end of the cut spiral to be dipped in step 321. The cut spiral is dipped into the anodizing solution to the set length in step 322 and removed. The dipped spiral is allowed to set the color from the anodizing solution and test step 323 determines when the color has been set. Once set, the process 300 determines in test step 324 whether an additional anodizing dip is needed, and if so, the process 300 returns to step 321 to perform the next dip. Once all of the dips have been performed and recognized in test step 323, the process 300 ends 302. A completed multi-colored spiral at a specified length has been created.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the present application, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in this application. In other words, any of the features mentioned in this application may be included in this new invention in any combination or combinations to allow the functionality required for the desired operations.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of manufacture for providing multi-colored aluminum spirals for document and book binding, the article being a spiral made from a length of wire having a specified gauge that is processed by one or more drive rollers coupled to a forming machine using a method of manufacture, the method comprising: setting a pitch value for a manufactured spiral on a forming machine; setting a diameter value for the manufactured spiral on the forming machine; receiving the length of wire by one or more drive rollers; processing the length of wire by the forming machine using the set pitch value and the set diameter value to create the spiral; dipping a first portion of the spiral into a first anodizing solution; and dipping one or more additional portions into additional anodizing solutions after the first anodizing solution has set.
 2. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the length of wire has a gauge size between 0.040 to 0.110 inches.
 3. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the spiral has a pitch value chosen from a set of pitch values.
 4. The article of manufacture according to claim 3, wherein the set of pitch values comprises 5:1, 5 metric, 4:1, 4 metric, 0.2478, 3.5:1, Wire-O 3, 3:1, 2.5:1, and 2:1.
 5. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the spiral has a diameter value between 3/16″ to 5 inches.
 6. A method for providing multi-colored aluminum spiral for document and book binding, a spiral being made from a length of wire having a specified gauge that is processed by one or more drive rollers coupled to a forming machine using a method of manufacture, the method comprising: setting a pitch value for a manufactured spiral on a forming machine; setting a diameter value for the manufactured spiral on the forming machine; receiving the length of wire by one or more drive rollers; processing the length of wire by the forming machine using the set pitch value and the set diameter value to create the spiral; dipping a first portion of the spiral into a first anodizing solution; and dipping one or more additional portions into additional anodizing solutions after the first anodizing solution has set.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the length of wire has a gauge size between 0.040 to 0.110 inches.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the spiral has a pitch value chosen from a set of pitch values.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the set of pitch values comprises 5:1, 5 metric, 4:1, 4 metric, 0.2478, 3.5:1, Wire-O 3, 3:1, 2.5:1, and 2:1.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spiral has a diameter value between 3/16″ to 5 inches. 